What's the story if the driver forgets to start the meter altogether? A few weeks ago, I was brought to my destination while having a grand chat and he notices he forgot to set the meter. He said €12 is 'probably' what it costs. I offered him €10 as it's usually around that. He seemed OK with that.

Legally speaking, was I obliged to pay any fare all? (Of course, even if I wasn't I'd still have offered the €10 as that's what I'd been prepared to pay from the outset.)

when does the fare begin? once you enter the cab or once the cab moves off. if for example you sit into the cab and suddenly realise that you get an uncomfortable vibe do you still have to pay the basic rate?

I imagine msot drivers won't have a problem if they haven't pulled off yet. Claiming you forgot your wallet solves most of the rest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aard

What's the story if the driver forgets to start the meter altogether? A few weeks ago, I was brought to my destination while having a grand chat and he notices he forgot to set the meter. He said €12 is 'probably' what it costs. I offered him €10 as it's usually around that. He seemed OK with that.

Legally speaking, was I obliged to pay any fare all? (Of course, even if I wasn't I'd still have offered the €10 as that's what I'd been prepared to pay from the outset.)

It has to be on the meter. It was the driver's responsibility. He might have been able to insist on the minimum fare of ~€4.50

Please remember its against the law to refuse to pay a taxi or a hackney fare.
If you are unhappy with the fare get a receipt and contact the taxi regulator and not the garda as the garda do not deal with this kind of complaint.
Never refuse to pay the fare the garda will arrest you for not paying the fare if they are called even if you feel you are getting over charged.

Coming home from a night out, I've found a taxi cost can fluctuate by up to 10E. The conditions are always the same:
- roughly the same time of night (never any traffic on the road)
- always alone (I'm working on it )

Presumably, the more expensive trips mean the driver's been tampering with the meter? What do I do?

I've heard that a printed receipt gives all of the journey's details but what happens if the driver says he doesn't have any paper in the machine or can't issue receipts for whatever reason (is it possible some don't have them or they can be broken?)

If the driver can't/won't give you a receipt, a friend suggested that you can ask them to take you to a police station, where a Garda can write a receipt but I'm not sure they'd be so keen on you wasting their time?

Coming home from a night out, I've found a taxi cost can fluctuate by up to 10E. The conditions are always the same:
- roughly the same time of night (never any traffic on the road)
- always alone (I'm working on it )

Presumably, the more expensive trips mean the driver's been tampering with the meter? What do I do?

I've heard that a printed receipt gives all of the journey's details but what happens if the driver says he doesn't have any paper in the machine or can't issue receipts for whatever reason (is it possible some don't have them or they can be broken?)

If the driver can't/won't give you a receipt, a friend suggested that you can ask them to take you to a police station, where a Garda can write a receipt but I'm not sure they'd be so keen on you wasting their time?

If anyone knows for sure, I'd be really grateful to hear...

If the printer or meter does not work for any reason the taxi should not be in service.

Coming home from a night out, I've found a taxi cost can fluctuate by up to 10E. The conditions are always the same:
- roughly the same time of night (never any traffic on the road)
- always alone (I'm working on it )

Presumably, the more expensive trips mean the driver's been tampering with the meter? What do I do?

I've heard that a printed receipt gives all of the journey's details but what happens if the driver says he doesn't have any paper in the machine or can't issue receipts for whatever reason (is it possible some don't have them or they can be broken?)

If the driver can't/won't give you a receipt, a friend suggested that you can ask them to take you to a police station, where a Garda can write a receipt but I'm not sure they'd be so keen on you wasting their time?

If anyone knows for sure, I'd be really grateful to hear...

Its the worse thing about driving a taxi. As soon as things dont appear right, people immediately assume the driver is up to something dodgy. Funny how people dont worry about spending quite a bit of money over the bar yet want to argue about 6 euro on the way home.

I have no idea how a driver would tamper with a meter while driving. A driver is always supposed to give you the receipt. 99.9% dont want it. If ever in doubt make him/her take you to the police station.

Its the worse thing about driving a taxi. As soon as things dont appear right, people immediately assume the driver is up to something dodgy. Funny how people dont worry about spending quite a bit of money over the bar yet want to argue about 6 euro on the way home.

I have no idea how a driver would tamper with a meter while driving. A driver is always supposed to give you the receipt. 99.9% dont want it. If ever in doubt make him/her take you to the police station.

Driver may have had a few euros notched up on meter before OP got in.
Having said that, you are 100% right about people being able to chuck it across the counter all nite.

...I have no idea how a driver would tamper with a meter while driving.

With respect, I don't think it's crazy to assume that a driver could tamper with the meter; it's only a piece of technology, after all. While I'm sure that the majority of taxi drivers are honest and decent, there must be a few dodgy ones around. I have no doubt that if someone really wanted to do something to their device they could easily find someone to organise it. Even without tampering with a meter, wouldn't it be possible to just charge for an extra couple of passengers?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciaran67

Its the worse thing about driving a taxi. As soon as things dont appear right, people immediately assume the driver is up to something dodgy. Funny how people dont worry about spending quite a bit of money over the bar yet want to argue about 6 euro on the way home.

Well, given that last time I took the journey the fare was 21E but a few months earlier it had cost me about 32E, I think that my cynicism is justified. Maybe there's an innocent explanation for the discrepancy but certainly not an obvious one.

Regarding spending money behind the bar and arguing about 6 Euro on the way home, I think they're quite different things really!